Loop-riveting machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. H. GRIFFIN. LOOP RIVBTING MACHINE.

110,487,618. Patented Dec. 6, 1892..

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. H. GRIFFIN. ,LOOP RIVBTING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELVIN H. GRIFFIN, OF SOUTH BOSTON, VIRGINIA.

LOOP-RIVETING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,618, dated December6, 1892.

Application filed July 13, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELVIN H. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at South Boston, in the county of Halifax and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Loop-Riveting Machine, of whichthe foll0wing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class known as riveting-machines, and inparticular has reference to a machine for riveting loops of leather,which are needed and used extensively in the manufacture of harness,straps, and other leather articles, wherein it is desired to rivet twoor more extremities together.

My invention has for its object to provide a device of this character soarranged and constructed that the loop to be riveted can be readilyplaced in position to receive the rivet, and then by a single movementof the operator the rivet can be forced into the adjacent ends of theloop and there securely and effectually clinched.

My invention has for its further object to arrange and construct theseveral and essential parts of the machine in such manner as to renderease and precision in operation and adjustment; that the rivets andarticles to be riveted can be readily inserted and removed, and that allparts may be interchangeable and durable in use.

For the attainment of these several objects my invention consists incertain details of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts,all of which will be more fully described hereinafter, and the specificpoints of novelty in which will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims, forming a part hereof.

Before proceeding into a detailed description of my invention I desireit to be here understood that certain mechanical and equivalent changescan be made from the parts illustrated and described without in theleast deviating from the spirit or scope of my invention as defined bythe appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy invention complete, showing the auxiliary parts in op- Serial No.439,930. (No model.)

erative relation to each other. Fig. 2 is a detail view of theloop-holder, shown removed from its supporting foot-piece. Fig. 3 is adetail side elevation taken on opposite side of machine, as shown inFig. 1, to show the manner of controlling the presser-foot.

Like letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts in theseveral views of the drawings.

A indicates the framework of the machine, consisting of the base-plate Band the vertical supporting plate 0, substantially arcshaped in sideelevation, and comprising the foot-piece D and thehorizontally-projecting head-piece E, occupying the same vertical planeas the foot-piece D, and serving to support and receive certainoperating parts 01f? the machine, as will be described hereina ter.

Between two parallel upwardly-extending trunnion -arms a a is pivotedthe actuating hand-lever F, having the horizontal cam-lever 11projecting at a right angle therefrom and connected at its other orfarther extremity to the vertically-reciprocating plunger or riveter Gby a flexible loop or yoke H, which latter is made of any suitableelastic or flexible materialsuch as spring-steel or rawhideand isattached at its lower portion in any ordinary manner to the plunger G,but is connected to the cam-lever b by means of an intermediate orinterposed U-shaped spring 0, horizontally placed on the upperside ofcam 19, with its under side or arm fastened to said cam-leverb, andafter being helically coiled at 6 has its upper horizontally-proj ectingfinger or prong fsecuredat its end to the flexible yokeH. Thus it willbe seen that in a position of rest (see Fig. 1) the plunger G isnormally held by means of the yoke H and the tension-spring a up incontact with the face of the cam-lever b in operative position, so thatany forward and downward movement of said cam will cause immediatedepression of the plungerrod G by reason of its impingement against itsactuating-lever b, which in turn is operated by hand-lever F, having aretracting spring g, suitably placed in the rear thereof, bearingagainst lever F, and thus serving to normally hold the same in theposition shown in Fig. 1 ready for operation.

The head-piece E of the framework is, as shown, provided with arectangular-shaped opening or recess h, designed to give access to theoperating parts for repair or lubrication. The top and bottom walls ofsaid recess are respectively perforated with relativelysitnated circularapertures, severally in vertical alignment with each other, to permitthe vertical operation of the plunger-rod G and the presser-bar I,arranged parallel to the rod G, and designed to be elevated anddepressed at the will of the operator in a manner and for a purpose thatwill hereinafter appear.

J designates the anvil or holder designed to receive and hold the loopor other article to be riveted, and to that end consists of a loop ofspring-steel or other approved metal fastened in horizontal position onthe footpiece D, the loop or bend being in the rear, while the twoextremities i 41 are brought together opposite each other in the samevertical plane, the upper horizontal spring-arm t" of the loop beingfree to exert its tension upwardly, while the under arm t' is renderedinactive, being secured to the foot-piece D in such manner thatsufficient space is left under its extreme portion or end to admit theinsertion of the article to be riveted over the ends 1 t of the anvil J,when it will be held securely from displacement by the upward tension ofthe spring-arm t" pressing the unjoined or unriveted extremities of thearticle against the presser-foot K, which in operation is pressing downupon the anvil J, and also upon the interposed loop on the anvil, aswill be understood from subsequent description.

The presser-foot K is secured to the lower end of the presser-bar I, andis so shaped and constructed as to bear upon and hold in position thecontiguous ends of the article or loop to be riveted,as before stated,and, moreover, has a suitably-shaped opening j, running verticallytherethrough, designed to receive, hold, and permita rivet to passthrough when the latter is forced into the ends of the article by thedownward descent or plunge of the plunger-bar G, which carries at itslower end a rivet-punch orhead Z, shaped to suit the form of rivet usedand of asize permittinga snug passage through the openingin thepresser-foot. Thelatter is normally heldin contact with the anvil J bymeans of the retractingspring m, having its upper end pierced to permitfree movement of presser-bar l and bears against the under side of thehead-piece E, while the lower extremity is rigidly attached to thepresser-bar, near the presserfoot, through a circular perforation in itsend, and is there held upon said presser-bar against slipping verticallyup or down by two adjusting-nuts n n, respectively above and below saidlower end of spring m, and capable of vertical adjustment by hand bythreads formed for that purpose on the presser-bar in such manner thatthe tension of spring m can be variably adjusted at will, andconsequently the degree of pressure of the foot K according to demandsor in consequence of the thickness of the article to be riveted.

The presser-foot K can be raised from contact with the anvil J by use ofthe ordinary treadle L, connected to and controlling the movement of thepresser-bar I by the intermediate link-rod n pivoted at 0 on theframework and slotted at its upper end to engage a pin 12, projectingtransversely from presser-rod I through a vertical slot q in thehead-piece E. Thus by asingle movement of the foot of the operator thepresser-foot can be raised and the loop riveted on the anvil removed andanother placed ready for another operation.

As will be seen by an inspection of Fig. 2, there are two parallelgrooves 'r r in the end 2" of the anvil J, to insure the clinch of therivet ends when forced through the ends of the leather against the metalunderneath.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a loop-rivetingmachine, the combination, with a presser'foot, a base below the same,and a spring-anvil having an upper branch pressing upwardly against thefoot, of a punch or riveter and means for reciproeating the punch,substantially as specified.

2. In a loop-riveting machine, the combination, with a rivet-holder, avertical operating rivet-punch adapted to pass therethrough, and meansfor actuating the same, of a U-shaped spring-anvil, the lower branch ofwhich is secured to and slightly above the base of the machine and theupper branch of which presses upwardly against the under side of theholder, substantially as specified.

3. In a loop-riveting machine, the combination, with a perforatedrivet-holding presser-foot, a rivet-punch adapted to pass therethrough,and means for operating the same, of a U-shaped spring-anvil, the lowerbranch of which is secured to and slightly above the base and the upperbranch of which presses upwardly against the foot and is perforated forthe passage of the punch,substantially as.

specified.

4C. In a loop-riveting machine, the combination, with a spring loop oranvil for holding the article to be riveted, of a combined rivet holderand presser foot, a retractingspring for normally holding saidpresser-foot in operative position, a rivet-punch, and a system oflevers for actuating said punch, substantially as specified.

5. In a loop-riveting machine, the combination, with a spring loop oranvil for holding the article to be riveted, of a spring-actuatedpresser-foot in engagement therewith, a my own I have hereto affixed mysignature :in retracting-spring for normally holding said the presenceof two Witnesses. presser foot in operative position, and a treadle andintermediate system of levers for ELVIN H. GRIFFIN. 5 controlling theremoval of the presser-foot Witnesses:

from the anvil, substantially as specified. J. J. HILL,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as T. T. LAWSON.

